Gripper mechanism



Aug. 30, 1949.

e. A. ANDERSON GRIPPER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1946 Aug. 30, '1-949. e. A. ANDERSON 2,430,350

GRIPPER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29, 1946 I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 abtoww Aug. 30, 1949.

G. A. ANDERSON GBIPPER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 29, 1946 3 1 w e m tom Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRIPPER MECHANISM Gustave, A. Anderson, New York, N. Y., assignorto The International Handkerchief Mfg."Co., New .York, N. Y., acorporationof New York Application January 29, 19.46, .SerialNo. 644,009

This invention relates to .mechanism for gripits longitudinal edges, enters the apparatus from 1!) the side. It is gripped by grippers and approximately the required amount to form a handkerchief is drawn transversely across the apparatus. The exact length fora handkerchief is then adjusted by producing a suitable amount of slack in the web portion which has-been drawn across the apparatus. The blank is then clamped along its ends and is-acutoff. While still held in its out position, the first fold is given to the-unhemmed or raw edges; tudinally of the apparatus, and hems are formed which are finally sewed simultaneously by two sewing machines located at the forward end of the apparatus. The handkerchief .is then complete, :25

structure, is effected by a spring. The drawing 30 movement is cam controlled.

It has been found that the use of a spring to return the gripping mechanismto its initial position resulted in banging the mechanismagainst the frame of the apparatus with considerable force. Not only is thisnoisy, but such a system makes it impossible to govern accurately the depth of grip of the grippers. The depth ofgrip is important for it regulates the amount of turnin, necessary for the particular kind of goods used on one side of the handkerchief, that is, the leading side as the blank is drawn from the web. The turn-in is the amount of cloth folded under first top fold of the hem.

In the patented construction to which reference has been made the springs cause a rebound of the grippers at the forward end of their stroke just as the grippers are closing on the goods, thus causing a variation in the grip and a consequent variation in the length of goods cut from the web. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a gripping mechanism which is not subject to these disadvantages, and which, while simple in arrangement, permits accurate adjustment ofthe gripping mechanism to compensate for cloth of different kinds and weaves, and which 'furtheroperatesquickly and'emciently.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following de- 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-25) The blank is then moved longi- .29

scription and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanynig drawings, in which:

"Fig. 1 is an end elevation showing the gripping mechanism in its gripping position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gripping mechanism at the finish of its stroke; and

Fig. 3 is a sideelevation.

The mechanism is mounted on a frame which includes .sidemembers .H and I2 which are held in spaced relationshipby one or more cross-bars l3. 7

The reference numerals 1'4 and represent shafts which extend across the frame from sideto side and the ends of which are secured to the sides, These shafts l4 and are disposed in spaced parallel relationship (Fig. 3) and they serve as guide rods for the grippers IS.

The grippers it are each comprised of a sleeve portion I! which is slidably mounted on one of the shafts l4, IS, an upright arm I8 secured to or integral with the sleeve l1, and gripper jaws 19 which are normally held in closed position by springs, such as 20. One of the gripper jaw parts carries a roller 2| orthe .like which is adapted in certain positions to be engaged by a cam surface. such as 22 (Fig. 2) to cause the gripper jaws to separate. The specific structure of the gripper jaws I9 is not vital to the present invention as I long as they operate substantially as described.

A suitable structure for the gripper jaws is illustrated and described in U. S. Patent No.

2,053,257 to which reference has already been made. The web ofcloth is gripped by the gripping jaws at the position of the jaws in Fig. 1 and the dot-dash horizontal line at the top of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings represents substantially the line of travel of web as it is drawn a s the apparatus. a I

Each sleeve IT hasa pivotal connection 23 at .its side with asholt rod 24 which in turn is pivotally connected to a long rocker arm 25 the lower end of whichis'secured to a rock shaft 26 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and supported by journal blocks such as '21 carried b the cross bars l3.

FromFig. 3 it will Ibeseen that there are two rock arms .25 each secured at its base to the rock shaft 26. With reference to this same figure, the referencenumeral 28 designates the maindrive shaft of the apparatus. This shaft/2'8 is disposed above and to one side of the rock shaft 26 and is similarly iournalede It is adapted to he turned by any suitable means .(not shown) Secured on the vmain drive shaft 28 is a cam wheel 29 which is provided on one side face with acam track. 130. This cam track isengaged by a roller 3| carried- On the endv of one arm 32 of a double-armed lever 33 which is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 34 disposed parallel to the rock shaft 26.

The other arm 35 of the double-armed lever 33 extends laterally and upwardly and its end 36 is pivotally connected to one end of a turnbuckle 31. The other end of the turnbuckle 31 is pivotally connected to an arm 38 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 26.

As the main drive shaft 28 is rotated the cam wheel 29 will also rotate and the roller 3! engaged in the cam track 30 will move the double armed lever 33 to pivot or rock on its shaft 34. This rocking movement is transmitted through the turnbuckle 3! to the arm 38'and consequently to the rock shaft 26. Since the long rocker arms 25 are secured to the rock shaft 26 these rocker arms, upon rocking of the rock shaft, will move from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and then back again as the cam wheel 29 makes one complete revolution. The grippers IE will move with the rocker arms 25 and in so doing will slide on the guide shafts 4 and I5.

From Fig. 1 it will be seen that the arms 25 at their forward or initial gripping position engage stop members 39 which may advantageously be comprised of bolts secured to the frame by nuts 4|). The position of thestop members 39 can thus be adjusted.

The cam track 30 has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the roller 3| except at one point, namely, that part of the cam. track occupied by the roller when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. At that point the cam track is enlarged. Consequently, the cam track Adjustably mounted rigidly on therock shaft .26 by the set screw shown in Fig. 3 is an arcuate arm 4|. Mounted rigidly on the main drive shaft 28 is an arm 42 near the end of which is a laterally extending stud 43. The arcuate arm 4| and the arm 42 are disposed in adjacent parallelplanes. However, the stud 43 on arm 42 is so disposed that just as the roller 3| reaches the position in the cam track shown in Fig. 1, where the roller nolonger transmits positive rocking movement to the rock shaft 26, the stud43 on arm 42 will strike the tip end of the arcuate arm A l' and move that arm counter-clockwise thus moving the rock shaft 26 further and causing the rocker arms 25 to move into engagement with the stops 39. By means of the set screw shown in Fig. 3 on the hub of arm 4|, this arm is adjustably positioned on shaft 26 so that its position can be varied angularly as the position of stop 39 is adjusted.

The advantages of employing mechanism of the type described is as follows. It has been mentioned that different types and weaves of cloth require different grips. Consequently, the limit of forward movement of the grippers IE should be adjustable. If the cam track did not have a cut out or enlarged portion at the place occupied by the roller 3| in Fig. .1, it would be apparent that the forward limit of. the gripper could not be adjusted except possibly by providing a different cam wheel for each length of grip desired.

In accordance with the present invention, as will now be apparent, by providing an enlarged portion in the cam track and by providing the kick over mechanism to move the gripper mechanism at the end of its forward stroke, the grippers move forwardly the full distance as governed by the stops 39. Because of this mechanism, adjustment of the stroke can be provided and the grippers I6 will always move the maximum amount provided by the adjustable stops. Thus the proper grip for each kind and weave of cloth may be effected.

I claim:

1. In a handkerchief making machines or the like in which at least one member is mounted for rocking movement, the combination of a positive stop for defining the limit of movement of said member in one direction, a cam element including a cam track for imparting movement to said member, a cam follower drivably connected to said member and engaging said track, said track having an enlarged portion positioned to cooperate with said follower during the final portion of movement of said member toward said stop, a first arm drivably connected to said member, and a second member movable with said cam and engaging said arm during said final portion of movement of the rocking member to force said rocking member positively against said stop.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, means for adjusting said positive stop to halt movement of said rocking member in the direction of the stop at variable positions, and means for adjusting the position of said arm to vary the limit of movement of the arm and rocking member by said second member.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 in which said first arm is arcuate in configuration, said second member comprising a second arm positioned to engage and move past the end of said first arm to bring said rocking member into engagement with said stop.

4. In a handkerchief making machine or the like having a frame, a pair of parallel guide members supported by said frame, a pair of gripper members movable on said guide members between forward and rear positions for drawing lengths of material from a web, a rocking element for moving said gripper members between said positions, and an oscillatable shaft carrying said rocking element, the combination of a cam member having a cam track provided at one point with an enlarged cut-away portion, a cam follower engaging said cam track, means connecting said cam follower with said shaft to oscillate the shaft upon rotation of said cam member except at the end of the forward movement of said grippers when said follower is adjacent said cut-away portion, stop means on said frame for limiting the forward movement of said grippers, a driven shaft carrying said cam member, and means carried and actuated by said driven shaft and independent of said cam to move the grippers forwardly at the extreme end of their forward movement against said stop means.

GUSTAVE A. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 400,875 Scott Apr. 2, 1889 471,368 Yates Mar. 22, 1892 

